Sex After Babies, Hormones Perimenopause and Menopause (4 CE Hours)

Course description

This 4-hour course will dive into the nuances of hormones for those AFAB at key times during life including the post-partum era, perimenopausal and post-menopausal time frames

Learning objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

      I.         Name 2 hormones at play in the post partum era and explain their role in libido and vaginal health

     II.         Name 2 sex steroid hormones and discuss their interaction with sexuality

    III.         Discuss the typical age span for perimenopause and explain the hormonal fluctuations that occur during this time

   IV.         Describe the hormonal changes that occur post menopausally and when to encourage clients to seek hormonal testing

Activity schedule:

1st hr – Sex after baby: We’ll discuss what’s ok sexually, what’s not, timing, and medical reasoning behind recommendations. We’ll review specific recommendations as well as work within role plays. These techniques will help develop comfort with conversations with clients to help them stay connected in their relationship(s) while postpartum despite hormones that may contribute to low libido and vaginal dryness.

2nd hr – Hormones: We’ll do a deep dive into the sex steroid hormones. How do they interact with sexuality and desire, pleasure and arousal? When is it appropriate to encourage clients to seek consultation to discuss how their hormones may be playing a role and how will you know if they’ve been given accurate information?

3rd hr – Perimenopause: The time leading up to menopause can be just as, if not more confusing and frustrating than menopause itself. How long does it last, what can your clients expect, and how can you help them advocate for themselves as well as manage their symptoms during this time where the only consistent thing is change? We’ll discuss ways to help them stay in touch with their sexuality while traversing these changes.

4th hr – Menopause: How can you help clients achieve and sustain a healthy sexuality through menopause, regardless of their hormonal status. We’ll review some of the changes in health and sexuality that might accompany menopause, average age of menopause, roles of estrogen and testosterone, and methods to address sexuality while keeping your clients/patients medically safe.

Speaker Bio:

Nisha is the CEO and founder of the Women’s+ Health Collective in Grand Rapids, MI and has been in practice since 2002. Her clinic is a multispecialty medical center focusing on trauma informed care within Gynecology, Sexual Medicine, Pelvic Health, Mental Health, and Primary Care. She is a Nationally Certified Menopause Practitioner and a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health. Nisha teaches Sexual Medicine and Gynecology for the Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University PA Programs. She is also teaching faculty in the Sexual Health postgraduate program at University of Michigan. She speaks at medical and therapy conferences across the country with a dedication to helping providers understand how to better include sexual health into general health and how to break down sex and gender bias in medicine.